Church gives members money from collection basket to help others

11:38 AM,
Nov. 4, 2013

Written by

The people in the pews typically fill the collection basket, but one Fox Cities church recently reversed the offering and sent each member home with an envelope of cash - but there was a catch.

The members of Congregational United Church of Christ Neenah/Menasha had two weeks to use the gift - whether it was a $10, $20, $50 or $100 bill - by employing their talents and passions to help someone else, said the Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith.

"Most of the time we are asked to give money to the church. It's very seldom that the church gives us money back," Spencer-Smith said. "The idea with the reverse offering ...